GOP Rep Mario Díaz-Balart defends unwavering backing of Machado amid Venezuela upheaval

DORAL, FLORIDA: Florida Rep Mario Díaz-Balart sharply rejected a suggestion that he was not supporting Venezuelan opposition leader María Corina Machado following the capture of President Nicolás Maduro.

The exchange occurred during a press conference held by South Florida Republican lawmakers on Sunday, January 4, addressing the political fallout of Maduro’s removal. 

Díaz-Balart and his colleagues reaffirmed their backing of Machado amid growing uncertainty over Venezuela’s future leadership.

The comments came as President Donald Trump weighed next steps for US involvement in the country.

Mario Díaz-Balart reaffirms backing of María Corina Machado

Rep Mario Díaz-Balart (R-Fla) forcefully dismissed a reporter’s suggestion that he and his colleagues were not backing Venezuelan opposition leader María Corina Machado in the aftermath of Nicolás Maduro’s capture.

The question followed remarks earlier in the day from President Donald Trump, who had expressed skepticism about Machado’s ability to lead Venezuela.

“Oh, whoa, whoa, whoa,” Díaz-Balart responded, visibly upset. “You’re talking to us? When have we ever not supported her?”

“Do not put words in my mouth,” he continued. “I will not tolerate putting words in my mouth or my colleagues’ mouths. We have been consistent from day one.”

He went on to say, “The next democratically elected president of Venezuela is going to be Maria Corina Machado.”

Díaz-Balart was joined at the press conference by Reps Carlos Giménez (R-Fla) and Maria Elvira Salazar (R-Fla), both of whom nodded in agreement as he spoke.

The three Cuban-American lawmakers have long been outspoken critics of Maduro’s government, which they have accused of supporting Cuba’s communist leadership.

The press conference took place in Doral, Florida, where the lawmakers addressed developments following Maduro’s ouster.

Giménez described the moment as a turning point. “There will be a new world order,” he told reporters. “It will be a world order that is bounded by and guided by the principles of liberty and democracy, not tyranny, communism and socialism.”

Machado has been a central figure in Venezuela’s opposition movement for years.

She won an opposition primary in 2023 to become the coalition’s standard-bearer for the 2024 election but was barred from running by Venezuela’s Supreme Court, which critics claimed was aligned with Maduro’s government.

She later fled Venezuela covertly ahead of a ceremony recognizing her Nobel Peace Prize win.

Trump questions María Corina Machado's leadership

Earlier on Saturday, President Trump publicly cast doubt on Machado’s prospects as Venezuela’s future leader.

In a press conference celebrating Maduro’s capture, Trump said, “I think it’d be very tough for her to be the leader. She doesn’t have the support or the respect within the country. She’s a very nice woman, but she doesn’t have the respect.”

“Well, we’re making that decision now. We can’t take a chance of letting somebody else run it and just take over what he left off, so we’re making that decision now. We’ll be involved in it very much,” Trump said.

When again asked directly whether he would back Machado, Trump declined to give a clear endorsement, responding, “Well, we’re going to have to look at it.”